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Keir Starmer Allows Diane Abbott to Stand as Labour Candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Amid Controversy

Jun 2, 2024, 08:07 AM

Keir Starmer has reversed his stance and allowed Diane Abbott to stand as a Labour candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington in the upcoming general election. This decision follows significant pressure from within the party and public figures, including Lenny Henry, who criticized the treatment of Abbott. Despite this, Abbott remains cautious and awaits official endorsement from the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) next week. Reports have emerged that left-wing Labour MPs, including Abbott, were offered peerages to step down, a claim denied by Labour leaders such as Yvette Cooper. The controversy has been labeled an 'unwelcome distraction' by Labour figures, as it threatened to overshadow Starmer's election campaign.